Flanna stops short and grips my forearm. “Did you just say Arland and Perth agreed?”
“I did, but it was not easy to get them to talk.”
“That is because Arland knows Perth better than you do. Arland knows he should not trust him—”
“Flanna, I understand you do not like Perth, but you must know I have to do this. Griandor—”
She glances down at Anna who has been listening to our conversation for too long. Anna doesn’t need to be involved in any of my problems; her life is already difficult enough.
“You are going to need my help at Willow Falls. There will be people you have to meet, dances, conversations, customs you are not familiar with—I will not leave your side.” Color returns to Flanna’s cheeks, life to her eyes—I’ve given her something positive to focus her energy on.
“Kate?” Anna asks.
“Yes?”
“Why are you going to lie to everyone about who you love?”
I run my fingers through her hair. “Because I have to, Anna. I know you do not understand. Neither do I. But can you keep this a secret and make sure all the other children keep it a secret, too?”
“Yes, but I do not like it.”
Flanna shakes her head.
We split up. She gathers people from the right side of the cave while Anna and I gather people from the left. We shuffle everyone down the path then toward the river, where Arland and Mom and a few others already wait.
Hints of sunshine peek down from above, illuminating black mounds of dirt covering Lann and Enid. Anna and Flanna pause when we reach the graves. I stand between them, my hands squeezed by their grief. To the left, I spot Marcus alone in the crowd of people, staring at his sister, tears glistening on his face.
I lean into Anna. “Remember, you need to be strong.”
She doesn’t take her gaze from the earth but nods.
“Go to your brother. Comfort him.” I prod her back.
She takes a few steps toward Marcus, stops, looks at the graves, then rushes over to him.
Flanna squeezes my hand harder.
“Please, do not leave me,” she says with enough desperation to rip me in two.
“I had not planned on it.”
We nudge our way through the crowd toward Arland, my mom, and Brit. After we reach them, I take Mom’s hand in my left and hold Flanna’s on my right. Arland pats Flanna’s shoulder then steps away from us, staring at the ground. When he returns his gaze on the crowd, on the mourners, on me, I’m shocked by the amount of pain he reveals. His eyes are red, his face falls flat—not emotionless, but flat from an inability to control emotions.
He focuses on me then opens his mouth. “Times are difficult enough without losing those we love.”
Memories of my visions come crashing down on me like a ton of bricks. All the death, all the misery of losing him, someone I love, someone I cannot imagine living without now that I know him … I pray the day never comes, that none of the visions becomes reality.
He averts his gaze from me then looks at every person gathered, pausing only long enough to make eye contact, then moves on to the next. “Lann and Enid were good people. While none of us knew the real Enid, we know the shifter emulated who Enid truly was. She loved children, loved her fear céile, and had a passion for life. It is a shame we could not do more to help her, but the current state of our world does not allow for such miracles.”
Arland steps through the crowd, takes Anna and Marcus by the hands, then leads them to one of the graves. The other children follow close behind, gathering in a loose circle.
“The children were particularly close with Enid and, therefore, will have first wishes for her passing.” Arland kneels, scoops a handful of dirt, then drops bits of it in each child’s hand as they walk by him.
“Speak your wish or favorite memory of Enid to that which will cover her forever, then spread it over her resting place.”
All the children bring the dirt to their mouths, whisper words for Enid, then spread the wishes over the ground. Trailing back into the crowd, they take their places, but with a little less sadness on their faces. Frowns even out. Tears dry up. Peace has been made.
Flanna leans into me.
I release her hand then wrap my arm around her shoulders. “It is going to be okay, Flanna.”
“I will never find love again, Kate—I mean Katriona. Part of my prophecy said I would love until the end. I did not realize the end would come so soon, and I did not realize I would never have had a chance to tell him,” she whispers, staring straight ahead.
“Y-you never told him?”
“I told the shifter, but Lann never knew.” Flanna’s face turns bright red, matching her hair.
“He did not respond. I should have known something was wrong. Lann told me two years ago he was going to make me his one day. I laughed, but from that day forward, I began falling for him. I was mortified after I told him I loved him … he did not say anything.”
“I am so sorry, Flanna.” I don’t know what else to say. In a strange way, I feel responsible. I have the ability to see these things, to protect everyone and to end all of this, but so far I haven’t been able to save anyone.
She tears her gaze from Arland, from Lann’s grave, from the end of her love, and holds mine with such intensity I’m imprisoned in her blue eyes. “Promise me you will never stop loving Arland. Promise me you will never take him for granted, never miss an opportunity to love him even if it costs you everything. Love is the only thing in the world that matters, Katriona. Do you understand?”
I manage to nod. Of course I’ll love Arland. Of course I won’t take him for granted.
“I mean it. Do not fall for Perth at Willow Falls. Do not become fool to their games, Katriona, because a game is what I fear this is for him. Arland loves you, and the two of you have to be together. We will all die if you are not.”
Mom leans forward. “
Flanna
,” she scolds under her breath.
Flanna ignores my mom and grips my arm in her hand so hard, I know I will bruise. “Promise me, Katriona.”
“I promise, Flanna.” I don’t dare tell her Perth is honest, don’t dare tell her we could all die whether Arland and I are together or not. She’s grieving. I doubt she wants to cry in front of all the soldiers; Flanna is a Leader. I’m positive my promise is the only way she knows how to cope with her hurt right now.
“Lann was a Leader.” Arland’s voice booms with pride, interrupting Flanna’s quiet outburst.
She straightens her back and watches him without a hint of the pain that was on her face moments ago.
“She will not cry where others may see her. You should remember this; it will help you earn respect,” Mom whispers.
I mimic Flanna’s Leader stature. Squaring my shoulders and clearing my face of what I’m feeling, I stare ahead.
“A good Leader,” Arland continues. “He guided many of you through tough times, through hard battles, and through devastations none of us should ever have had to face. He was a friend of mine. I vow never to let what happened to him happen to anyone again.” Arland pauses and locks eyes with me. “I will remain focused and be more vigilant when behaviors seem out of the ordinary.”
I catch a few of the soldiers looking in my direction, but I’m not surprised. Arland said himself he’s acted like a lust driven youth since he met me. They must have noticed, but somehow
his
behavior doesn’t bother me one bit.
“If any soldier has a wish or something they would like to say, please come forward now,” Arland says.
Glancing around, I watch as, one by one, soldiers line up, grab a handful of dirt, whisper their wishes or kind words, spread them, then return to where they stood before. Not everyone pays respects, so it doesn’t feel awkward to stand here while the ones who do move around. Perth, Flanna, Mom, Brit, and I all hold our ground—as well as a few other soldiers.
When the commotion settles down, Arland glances at my mom, then returns to his feet. He stands in front of the graves again. “I would like to ask all the Leaders in our presence to come forward and pay their respects to Lann.”
Perth and Flanna step forward, but my feet are unwilling to move. The soldiers are aware I’m from The Meadows, but most of them are not aware of who I am—only that I’m powerful. If I step forward, if my mom or sister steps forward, everyone will know—or at least have a lot questions.
Mom looks between Arland, me, Brit, and everyone else. I’m not sure if Mom is ready for this either; she’s been in hiding for years and has told me she fears for her life when the other Leaders discover her.
She takes a deep breath then releases. “We may as well get this over with in front of people who
do
like us. It will be good for these people to know. They need to trust you, Kate.”
“Katriona, Mom. Kate will not exist at Willow Falls.” No matter how much I hate the idea of coming out of hiding, she’s right. If I’m ever going to form an army, I need someone to trust me.
“Katriona then.” She turns and looks at my sister. “You, too, Brit. You have just as much a responsibility to this land as Katriona. I am sorry for what I said earlier.”
“It’s okay. I know you’re scared. I am, too,” Brit says.
She’s always been closer to our mom; the quick reconciliation is not surprising, but it does sting. I’ve always felt my relationship with Mom to be somewhat lacking. Now, only more so. Even though I’ve resigned myself with her reasons, I still don’t fully trust her. I just need her.
Without allowing any more time to dwell on trust or relationships, Mom grabs me and Brit by the hands then steps forward. Flanna walks next to us, and Perth joins as well. We take our places beside Lann’s grave, ignoring the whispers from the soldiers behind us.
Arland kneels again. He scoops more earth then drops some into each of our hands. When we’re all holding the dirt, he whispers his wish then scatters it over the grave.
I don’t know what I’m going to wish for. I’m not sure if Lann was himself when we met, or if the shifter had already abducted him.
Perth follows suit, spreading his dirt.
My palms sweat.
Mom and Brit whisper to their closed fists then sprinkle their wishes over the graves.
What could they have wished for
? Neither of them knew Lann. I’ve never been to a funeral, only seen them on television, and I’ve never heard of people making wishes for the dead.
“Katriona?” Arland says, startling me by his closeness.
Some dirt falls from my hands and lands on my boots. I look up and around.
Everyone watches me.
It’s my turn.
I take a deep breath, close my eyes then whisper the first thing that comes to mind. “I am sorry, Lann. I wish for you to meet Flanna again someday.”
I scatter the brown, dry earth over his grave then turn to rejoin the others in the crowd.
Arland grabs my wrist, stopping my retreat. “Wait. There are things we need to talk to everyone about.”
“Here? Now? Are you sure this is appropriate?” I ask, stage fright rippling through me.
Arland’s lips press into a thin line, but the corners of his mouth turn up just a little. I’m sure he’d laugh if we were alone. He laces his fingers with mine, easing the tension of being in front of the soldiers.
We’re about to confess everything to them.
“We do not have time to wait, and everyone is already gathered here,” he says.
I sigh.
Arland pulls me closer to him then turns me around to face the truth.
“Before we leave for Willow Falls, there are some things we need to discuss.” Arland’s words bring the eyes of everyone upon him—even mine.
“I have been Leader of Watchers Hall for ten years, but my family was aware of my status as Coimeádaí to Kate from before my birth.”
None of this is news to the soldiers, at least not the ones Cadman shared the information with. Arland better go somewhere with this quick, or interests will wane.
“You may have noticed I called the Leaders up last to pay respects to Lann. You also may have noticed who was amongst them. Kate—Katriona—is the first born child of Leaders Brian and Saraid Wilde—”
The soldiers cut him off with an uproar of conversation, drowning out my thoughts.
”Please, calm down,” Arland says.
Tristan steps forward, arms crossed over his chest, eyebrows drawn together. “My parents told me stories of the Wildes. Said they were killed trying to flee with their daughter so she would not have to be Bound to Perth.”
Saidear emerges from the crowd. He places a hand on the young soldier’s shoulder. “I knew Brian Wilde. He did not abandon his people because of an unfortunate arrangement.”
”There is not much time to answer questions,” Arland says, quieting the crowd. “Leader Brian Wilde was killed in the early days of the war, but if it were not for him, none of us would be alive right now. The Wildes did not desert due to the Binding exchange of their daughter with Perth. A Seer instructed them to use old magic to leave Encardia to protect Katriona—the only one with the power to defeat Darkness.”
I feel a sudden urge to hide behind Arland—or a tree.
“You were all aware I have been protecting her, but what many of you are not aware of is why. She will bring Light to Encardia again. Just yesterday, she almost singlehandedly defeated the daemons holding us all captive. The light above us now is there because old magic is alive again, alive because of Katriona. I have seen this light before, but as she grows stronger, the sky remains visible longer.”
Gavin steps forward. “Why have you not informed us sooner, Arland?”
“Timing,” Arland says, voice flat.
Gavin steps back, accepting the answer without further question.
“Katriona was promised to the Dufaighs, but it is clear, Arland, the two of you have a connection—as all Coimeádaís have with their keep. What will you do about the Binding?” Shay asks, glaring at Perth.
He tips his head in my direction, flashes a cocky grin, then turns to face the crowd. “Which is why Arland and Katriona need to speak with you all now. I am on your side—or rather I am on the side of Light. I do not wish to marry Katriona as a punishment, besides, she and Arland were
made
for one another. I have no doubt about that. However, when we arrive at Willow Falls, Katriona and I will put on a show—”